Newcastle’s Centre for Life has scooped an award in recognition of its efforts to boost staff health and wellbeing.
The Better Health at Work Award (Silver) recognises the activity of employers in the North East and Cumbria to address health issues and promote healthy lifestyles within the workplace.
Life has been praised for making staff wellbeing a priority and creating a space, both physical and virtual, conducive to it.
The Silver accolade builds on the Bronze accreditation achieved in January 2019. To achieve Silver, employers must demonstrate a holistic approach to the working lifestyle; an understanding of prevalent health issues and an appreciation of work/life balance. In particular, Silver rewards those who go ‘above and beyond’ in their care and mentorship.
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Initiatives championed by Life over the past two years have included mental health and self-care awareness sessions led by external experts and internal health advocates, plus the introduction of a confidential helpline and a staff web portal offering advice and practical support. Life has trained mental health first-aiders and domestic abuse champions and its range of support has included fitness, diet and wellbeing, preparing for retirement and coping with menopause.
The Better Health at Work Award is a partnership public health programme, funded by the region’s local authorities and coordinated by the Northern TUC since 2013.
BHAWA programme coordinator Susanne Nichol said: “It is clear that Life is taking health and wellbeing seriously at all levels of the organisation. A great deal of time, effort and resource, as well as creativity and tenacity, has gone into achieving this Award, but more importantly creating a health and wellbeing-conducive environment for staff.”
Linda Conlon, chief executive at Life said: “We have always been committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our team and visitors. This award acknowledges the hard work that’s been done to empower everyone to be happy and healthy. We will continue to build on the work done so far and hope to achieve gold by 2024.”
A group of North East business leaders are uniting as part of a new fundraising board which is dedicated to saving lives.
Business Beats Cancer Newcastle aims to connect the business community to help fund and increase awareness of Cancer Research UK’s ground-breaking science in the region.
The voluntary board is currently made up of eight well-connected business leaders from a range of professional sectors who are passionate and invested in the fight against the disease.
The board hopes to bring more people together to contribute to the development and success of the charity’s work in Newcastle, where it has a thriving community of cancer scientists and doctors who are working to reduce the impact of the disease locally and around the world.
Chair of the Newcastle board Michael Lightfoot, property Investor and former Managing Director of a Durham travel company, is appealing to business directors and CEOs with strong networks and connections to apply to join the board.
Other members already appointed include vice chair Nicki Gott, a well-known local entrepreneur, Craig Priday, MD of Pearson Engineering and Sharon Hall, a market director and executive coach for Barclays.
The board recently held its first event at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, which raised £30,000 on the night, which will remain in the North East to fund research at the Cancer Research UK Newcastle Centre.
Mr Lightfoot said: “I’m appealing to CEOs and directors to volunteer their time and apply to join the Business Beats Cancer Board Newcastle. My experience is that this type of fundraising is rewarding in so many ways. It is sociable and a great way to meet new people. Furthermore, our fundraising efforts will contribute directly to helping Cancer Research UK scientists continue their research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer here in the North East.”
East Durham Community Initiatives (EDCI), a housing support charity for vulnerable young people, has received £100,000 in funding from Big Issue Invest, the investment arm of The Big Issue.
EDCI provides a range of supported housing services for vulnerable young people in one of the most deprived areas in the country.
The charity also supports a wide range of people, including those who are homeless, people living with mental health problems, learning disabilities or recovering from substance misuse, people who have spent their childhood in care, are fleeing domestic violence, people with training education or employment needs, homeless veterans, or those who are elderly and need extra support to live independently.
The money will help ECDI to convert one of the current buildings owned by the organisation into a supported accommodation facility with seven apartments, which will include two emergency crisis bedrooms, plus space for support staff and communal facilities.
Alan Tudhope, investment manager at Big Issue Invest, said: “We are so pleased to be able to support an organisation such as East Durham Community Initiatives. The work it does offering housing services and support to vulnerable people is absolutely vital. I am looking forward to watching the organisation go from strength to strength."
Claire Green, assistant manager at EDCI, said: “We are very pleased with the investment from Big Issue Invest, which will help us provide further support to those who need it most in the community. This is a really exciting development for both staff and service users at East Durham Community Initiatives.”
